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Have you ever seen this unpleasantly green algae in your pond or lakeshore? Well for those of you who have struggled with this green goop, we have some facts and solutions for you!

Algae is a very common form of aquatic vegetation that feeds off of many environmental factors. When algae grows out of control, it can turn into toxic (blue-green) algae, which can be harmful to humans, animals, and your fish and wildlife. It is very important to control and treat your algae as soon as possible, and as frequently as needed, to ensure your safety, along with preserving your pond or lake appearance.

Causes of algae:

Excess amounts of nutrients such as Phosphorus

Animal manure & fertilizer runoff

Warmer temperature

Sunlight

Still water

Hazards if left untreated:

Algae blocks sunlight and depletes oxygen levels

Fish need a food source and oxygen to survive

Decomposing algae increases the depletion of oxygen

Algae can turn into blue-green algae, which is toxic to household pets and humans

It is important to treat with nutrient reducers early on in the season so to prevent algae overgrowth issues. When using nutrient reducers, you can expect to see improvement in water clarity and a reduction in organic matter and pond muck.

Aeration can help improve the oxygen levels and gas exchange in your water by moving 7,000 to 10,000 gallons per hour! It can also keep movement in your water so that algae mats have a hard time forming. Shop our Vitaflume® floating pond fountains to learn about aeration benefits.

With Lake Restoration solutions for algae, there's no way you'll have anything but a perfect summer on your water!

In peak algae season all over the country, it is not uncommon for bodies of water to have at least a little bit of algae on them. High temperatures are perfect growing weather for algae. Algae is a normal part of a water ecosystem, but when algae overgrows rapidly, it can become dangerous. Toxic algae can occur in all 50 states.

What is toxic algae?

When algae experiences an overgrowth, this is called an algae bloom. Some large algae blooms contain toxins that are harmful to humans. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are the harmful type of algae blooms. Algae blooms can occur in salt and fresh water and can be toxic to humans and animals alike. These blooms happen in slow moving water, in high-sunlight areas, and in waters with excess nutrients that algae like to feed off of (nitrogen and phosphorus).

An algae bloom can look like paint on the water or like scum. These can vary in color, from green, red, blue and brown. It will most often smell foul as well.

Harmful effects of toxic algae:

Animals and humans can experience negative side effects of toxic algae exposure. Irritation or rashes can happen, along with vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, and more. In pets that have been exposed, lethargy, difficulty breathing, vomiting may occur. If symptoms are left untreated, severe illness or even death may occur. If you or a pet is exposed to toxic algae, wash off and monitor for signs of exposure for the following few hours. Seek medical attention if symptoms are occurring.

If you see toxic algae, report it to your local authorities and stay away from the water. Don’t allow kids or pets in the water.

How to prevent and treat growth:

Since large algae blooms happen due to conditions such as ample sunlight, excess nutrients, and stagnant water, there are a few things you should consider doing to prevent prime algae overgrowth.

1. Treat existing algae with an algaecide, such as Mizzen® algaecide from Lake Restoration.

2. Use a nutrient reducer, such as SparKlear® or PhosControl® to rid your water of excess nutrients that aid in rapid algae growth. Make sure grass clippings and leaves aren’t getting into your water (this creates more excess nutrients in your pond).

3. Use an aerating fountain, like the Vitaflume® floating fountain from Lake Restoration. The fountain will help keep water moving and gas exchanged between the water and the air.

While algae growth is common this time of year and is a normal part of a healthy pond, overgrowth of algae can be dangerous. Take precautions and prevent algae from taking over your pond with the help of products from Lake Restoration! Shop all pond weed and algae products online at LakeRestoration.com. FREE SHIPPING* on all orders!